Why Well City?
When Well City Milwaukee was launched early in 2007, the Milwaukee business community demonstrated its commitment to create a more vibrant and productive workforce, to be at the forefront of effective action on controlling health care costs through disease prevention and health promotion and to become a national leader in wellness.
The primary goal is to improve the health and well-being of the workforce in Milwaukee and have a ripple effect on the community at large. For example, poor nutritional choices and a lack of physical activity have resulted in a dramatic increase in diabetes rates. Nationally, regionally and locally, obesity has reached epidemic proportions and an emerging best practice strategy for combating this crisis is worksite wellness. Not only will workplace wellness heighten awareness, provide education, and teach new lifestyle skills, but it also creates a supportive corporate culture to teach, encourage and sustain positive health behaviors. In addition, wellness programs can be an effective tool for recruiting and retaining top talent, while containing health care costs and enhancing morale and productivity at the same time. Achieving Well City status will enable us to showcase Milwaukee as a healthy place to live and work.
Well City Milwaukee is good business. Chronic diseases related to lifestyle factors account for 70% of the nation’s medical care costs and each lifestyle risk factor can result in $1,500-$3,500 in excess claims. You can estimate that only 30% of your workforce is healthy and low risk. About 50% of employees have some significant risk factors or experience acute illness, while 20% have chronic diseases linked to lifestyle or are on disability. Employers who have committed to workplace wellness have seen:
- Increased productivity
- Decreased absenteeism
- Decreased disability and workers compensation claims
- Increased employee retention – decreased training costs
- Enhanced company loyalty
Unfortunately, individual health risks play out in the image of our city – in both the stereotypes and realities related to our collective lifestyle behaviors. We are acutely aware that for those in the business community, economic development, tourism, and others in the business of promoting Milwaukee, the perception of poor health status and the resulting costs, contributes to a negative image for Milwaukee. Conversely, health sells. Well City Milwaukee fits with the image we want to project as a city – revitalized, vibrant, active, and progressive – a “New Milwaukee.” Nationally, only nine cities have achieved Well City or Well Region USA status, but all would agree that their designation has acted as a catalyst and they have seen the payoff – in the workplace and in the community.
In Omaha NE, since receiving Well City USA designation:
- Union Pacific has experienced a $40 million savings resulting from their $2.3 million investment
- The city of Omaha has received several accolades including:
- Ranked by Forbes as one of the top 15 metro regions in the nation in both economic prosperity and quality of life Ranked among top 10 cities for working mothers by Redbook
- Ranked within the top 20 as one of the fittest cities by Men’s Fitness
- The Chamber of Commerce leverages Well City status to attract businesses interested in relocating
- City leaders showcase Well Workplaces, reduced healthcare costs and improved population health as evidence of a healthy community and healthy workforce